Gilgandra
A 14.2% vacancy rate sets Gilgandra apart from a tightly supplied housing market, while a median age of 47 is 7 years above the national average. The town has 2,983 residents spread across 648.13 square kilometres, creating a density of 4.6 people per square kilometre. Housing is strongly detached, with 91.6% of dwellings being separate houses. Compared with nearby Dubbo and Narromine, Gilgandra has a more rural, low-density profile because employment, housing and daily travel are organised around a small service centre. Household income sits at the 16.7th percentile, and university participation is 15.9%, or 14.2 percentage points below the national figure.
Local council: Gilgandra
Population
2,983
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,083/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
36
Gilgandra is suited to buyers who value detached housing, space and lower recurring costs over apartment access or rapid capital growth. Separate houses account for 91.6% of dwellings, with 43.6% having 3 bedrooms and 31.8% having 4 or more. Outright ownership at 41.3% is higher than the 29.9% renting share, indicating a substantial established owner base. The $200 weekly rent and $1,062 monthly mortgage figure provide useful affordability reference points, while mortgage repayments equal 22.6% of household income and rent equals 18.5%, both below common stress thresholds. The 14.2% vacancy rate may give buyers more choice, although it can also indicate slower demand than in larger regional markets.
For Buyers
Gilgandra is suited to buyers who value detached housing, space and lower recurring costs over apartment access or rapid capital growth. Separate houses account for 91.6% of dwellings, with 43.6% having 3 bedrooms and 31.8% having 4 or more. Outright ownership at 41.3% is higher than the 29.9% renting share, indicating a substantial established owner base. The $200 weekly rent and $1,062 monthly mortgage figure provide useful affordability reference points, while mortgage repayments equal 22.6% of household income and rent equals 18.5%, both below common stress thresholds. The 14.2% vacancy rate may give buyers more choice, although it can also indicate slower demand than in larger regional markets.
For Investors
Gilgandra's rental case combines a 29.9% renting share with a $200 weekly median rent, but the 14.2% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly supplied market and may limit rental growth or bargaining power. Development activity reached 36 applications in 12 months, which is above the threshold for a low-activity small town and may add choice for tenants if projects proceed. The wider growth outlook is cautious, with an annual trend of -0.29% and migration described as Balanced. Rent growth of 48.1% across the assessed period supports the income story, but an aging resident base and modest population change mean investors should prioritise tenant demand, property condition and local employment over a simple yield comparison.
Development Activity
Total DAs
177
Last 12 Months
36
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-5.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Gilgandra
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Gilgandra has an older resident profile, with a median age of 47 that is 7 years above the national average. Its 2.2-person average household is 0.3 below the national figure, reflecting 44.7% of families being couples without children and 24.4% being one-parent families. Overseas-born residents account for 4.1%, or 17.5 percentage points below the national share, while university participation is 15.9%, 14.2 points below the national figure. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 1,123, 301 and 249 respectively, and Christianity is recorded for 1,802 people compared with 785 reporting no religion. Compared with nearby Dubbo and Narromine, the profile is more settled because 84.7% stayed at the same address over five years and turnover was 15.3%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.6%
Houses
3.1%
Townhouse
4.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Gilgandra's housing stock is more detached than apartment-oriented, with 91.6% separate houses, 4.1% apartments and 3.1% semi-detached dwellings. Three-bedroom homes make up 43.6% of the stock, while 4-plus-bedroom homes account for 31.8%, providing more family-sized options than a compact urban market. Tenure is split between 41.3% owned outright, 25.2% with a mortgage and 29.9% rented, with the outright ownership share higher than the renting share. The $200 weekly rent is paired with 18.5% rent-to-income, while the $1,062 monthly mortgage figure equates to 22.6% of income. A 14.2% vacancy rate is above a low-supply market and helps explain why renters may have more choice than in larger centres.
Mortgage / mo
$1,062
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $200.
$320
Bond data Jun 2026
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$606
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.2%
Unoccupied
190
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.2%
Couples with children
44.7%
Couples, no children
24.4%
Single parent
767
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Gilgandra's largest listed industry at 21.3%, representing 137 workers, followed by Education at 15.2% and 98 workers, Public Administration at 13.2% and 85, Agriculture at 9.3% and 60, and Retail at 7.0% and 45. The occupational mix includes 189 community and personal service workers, 158 professionals, 152 managers, 152 trades workers and 138 labourers, giving the economy a broader base than agriculture alone. The unemployment rate is 6.1%, participation is 49.3% and full-time employment is 57.3%, while household income of $1,083 per week sits at the 16.7th percentile. SEIFA IEO and IER are both in decile 3, while IRSD and IRSAD are both in decile 2, all below national benchmarks. The lower socioeconomic scores align with modest incomes and a large 966-person group outside the labour force.
Unemployment
6.1%
Labour Force
1,210
Unemployed
74
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.3%
Part-time
34.2%
Participation
49.3%
Employed
1,136
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.9%
Postgraduate
2.2%
Born Overseas
4.1%
Dwellings
1,144
Transport to Work
Daily life in Gilgandra is strongly car dependent: 76.1% travel as car drivers, compared with 1.4% using public transport, while 8.3% walk or cycle and 8.5% work from home. Two government schools cover primary and secondary stages, giving families access to both sectors locally, although enrolment zones and travel times should be checked against the exact address across a 648.13 square kilometre suburb. The IRSAD score is in decile 2, below national socioeconomic benchmarks, and 9.9% of residents need assistance, a factor that increases the importance of health, support and accessible transport services. For safety, check current NSW Police figures by offence and year rather than relying on a broad label, since conditions can vary across a low-density area of 4.6 people per square kilometre.
Drive
76.1%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
8.3%
Work from Home
8.5%
Growth Outlook
Gilgandra's growth outlook is subdued rather than expansionary. The forecast annual trend is -0.29%, while population change across the wider area is -1.3% over 10 years. The trajectory is labelled Aging, with the senior share up 3.3 percentage points and the working-age share down 0.7 points, so demand is more likely to favour accessible services and manageable housing than rapid household formation. Migration is described as Balanced, which may cushion decline without creating strong upward pressure. Rent growth of 48.1% shows that housing costs have moved materially, even as affordability remained Stable at 32.2% in 2011 and 31.6% in 2021. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, pointing to limited evidence of premium-market transformation.
Population trend: Gilgandra council area
Gilgandra sits in the Gilgandra council area. These are the council area's residents, not Gilgandra's.
Residents 2025
4,304
Growth, 5 yr average
-0.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
-0.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Gilgandra compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gilgandra a good suburb to live in?
Gilgandra suits people seeking detached housing, a quieter setting and established local services. It has 2,983 residents, a median age of 47 and 91.6% separate houses. The 14.2% vacancy rate may provide more housing choice than a tightly supplied market, while 76.1% drive to work, so car access is more important than in larger regional centres.
What is the median house price in Gilgandra?
A current median house price should be confirmed through recent settled sales rather than inferred from asking prices, because a small market can shift with a limited number of transactions. Key affordability markers are $200 weekly rent, $1,062 monthly mortgage repayments and 41.3% outright ownership, which may be more useful than relying on an outdated median.
What schools are in Gilgandra?
Gilgandra has 2 government schools covering the main school stages: one primary school and one secondary school. Families should confirm enrolment zones, transport and year-level availability for the exact address, particularly across a 648.13 square kilometre suburb where access can vary more than in a compact urban area.
Is Gilgandra safe?
For a current safety view, check NSW Police figures by offence, year and location, then visit the exact street at different times. Gilgandra has 2,983 residents and a low density of 4.6 people per square kilometre, so local conditions may matter more than a single broad comparison. Ask about lighting, traffic and after-hours activity before choosing a property.
Is Gilgandra good for property investment?
Gilgandra may suit investors focused on lower entry costs and rental income, but the 14.2% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly supplied market. Median rent is $200 per week, renting accounts for 29.9% of households and development activity reached 36 applications in 12 months. The annual growth trend of -0.29% is below a growth-market profile, so tenant demand matters more than short-term price speculation.
How is Gilgandra's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is -1.3% over 10 years, and the annual forecast trend is -0.29%. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share rising 3.3 percentage points and the working share falling 0.7 points. Migration is Balanced, so the outlook is steadier but weaker than a high-growth regional market.
What development is occurring in Gilgandra?
Development activity reached 36 applications over 12 months, which is higher than a minimal-activity setting. Recent examples include a new dwelling house, a secondary dwelling and a swimming pool. This level of activity may improve housing choice gradually, but the -0.29% annual growth trend means buyers and investors should distinguish between genuine demand and one-off private projects.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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